Introduction

MSI has a long history in the tech scene, so much so that - like so many others in the tech world - what they are now and what they were before are not the same, yet remain similar in so many ways. The success of these companies is highly dependent on meeting a customer's needs to a tee, which is a hard task when primarily dealing with enthusiasts.

When it comes to gaming enthusiasts in particular, there are said to be two different types: those who only buy Intel-based LAN products and those who don't care about who makes their LAN controller. As we all know, those who like Intel's options are pretty vocal in their support, and so, MSI has a GAMING board for them as well. Enter the MSI Z170A GAMING PRO.

The MSI Z170 GAMING PRO quite obviously has a "pro" set of features, including those Intel-based LAN chips. Gone is the Killer NIC, replaced with an Intel I219-V controller. The buttons that rarely get used are gone as well. Additional controllers to those really required? Not here. That also means the high price tag is gone, and what you are left with is a solid and reliable performance-oriented board with MSI's built-in GAMING DNA.